Fixing a Victorian

[grantoury]

To say that these old bicycles are forever.. this project may be revealing another side to that. I do admire your tenacity, a lot. If not worthwhile anymore, it is at least a testament to a great 19th century build and how it stood the test of time (and abuse) or perhaps how it didn't. And if it can't be ridden anymore, it could still serve as a museum piece and be admired for years to come.

 

[jim haseltine]

I suspect what you need to tighten the screw is a drag link socket.

 

[Nabeaquam]

Ok, it’s shimmed, hammered on until it bottoms out, all shims held with JB Weld. The same with the seat rails. The crank should stay tight for as little as I’ll ride it, hopefully. Tim Moore in his book “Gironimo“ had a similar two piece crank. It kept coming loose as he re rode the 1914 Tour of Italy route on a 1914 bicycle. Shims worked for awhile, but eventually it kept coming loose.

 

[Nabeaquam]

I suspect what you need to tighten the screw is a drag link socket.

That is what I used. The drag link extractor was carefully filed for an exact fit. The crank press fit space is too worn to get tight so I used shims, epoxy, rubber hammer and an impact wrench with a drag link extractor.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

I figured out what’s wrong. The retaining bolt didn’t come loose this time after I used the impact wrench. I took it apart and throughly cleaned it. I put the crank arm on without the bolt and it bottoms out against the spindle threads, it can’t go on any further. It’s still loose. My rust removal took the nickel plating off the inside of the slotted crank hole and off the spindle. The soft nickel was used as a shim and now that’s gone. Time to try a beer can shim, JB Weld steel reinforced epoxy and a big clamp. The seat is loose from the same problem, missing nickel plating.

Ah ha! Thought it might be something along those lines,any more bother maybe a slow gentle tickle with a flap disc on the end of spindle...get that crank arm back onto those shoulders of the the spindle....epoxy might just do it though....it's that wiggle factor give it an inch and it will take a mile.fingers crossed again

 

[Nabeaquam]

18C today but it’s raining. August rains are just about 0C, not quite frozen but too cold to enjoy a summer bicycle ride. I’ll wait a few days for a ride and to report what broke. More rain tomorrow.

 

[Woz]

When all those niggles are ironed out, it would be great when opportunity presents itself to do a good photo shoot of the finished bike.

I'm convinced we will never see another bike like this come through these parts. Remaining examples are probably either wrapped up in cotton wool in a museum, or returned back to nature in a landfill. Having one which is a rider and that you bought alive again is truly exceptional IMHO.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

Yes we'll said woz.... nabeaquam has done the world of bikes a very good deed!
I'd like to see it in rboty....it'll sure get my vote

 

[Nabeaquam]

When all those niggles are ironed out, it would be great when opportunity presents itself to do a good photo shoot of the finished bike.

I'm convinced we will never see another bike like this come through these parts. Remaining examples are probably either wrapped up in cotton wool in a museum, or returned back to nature in a landfill. Having one which is a rider and that you bought alive again is truly exceptional IMHO.

I’m not a photographer. I only have an iPad. My son is a professional editor and cinematographer, but he lives in NYC. If he visits before winter I’ll see if he can shoot it. He usually doesn’t bring any equipment with him as he flies with a tooth brush. He has a stash of clothing at our place.

 

[Nabeaquam]

Yes we'll said woz.... nabeaquam has done the world of bikes a very good deed!
I'd like to see it in rboty....it'll sure get my vote

Can you tell me a little about retro bike of the year? How do bikes get into that?